Guide popular messenger Viber wants to add support for cryptocurrencies. The company plans is only Rakuten Coin — virtual asset Rakuten, the parent company of Viber. Service oriented to the Russian market, will be available in 2019.

In February, the Corporation announced that it plans to integrate its loyalty program with cryptocurrencies. The first step in the process was the launch of the Viber Community service, are only available to registered messenger users. According to the latest data, their number exceeds one billion people.

The Russian audience is Viber is 45 million active users. CEO at Jamel, Agawa (Djamel Agaoua) in comments to the press said:

“Rakuten Coin can be exchanged in Viber. Cryptocurrency will be kept on the inside purses Viber, and it can be sold for rubles, dollars and euros. At the moment our specialists study Russian laws, related to cryptocurrency”.

He added that the nuances of the exchange of rubles and ruble transfers to Bank accounts will depend on national legislation.

Also, according to the head of the Department of e-Commerce Viber Serina Lasker (Zephrin Lasker), Viber plans to open online trading platform in Russia in the 4th quarter of 2018.

The Russian segment is one of the key markets Viber: the penetration of communication through instant messenger in Russia has reached 76%.

In accordance with the draft laws on cryptocurrencies and mining, as well as the statements of the representatives of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, in Russia, the bitcoin is recognized as property, however, does not have the status of legal tender.

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